Thank you so much, Charles, for the ongoing news and commentary you provided to me and many others through your SAR postings over the years. I will very much miss your outstanding perspective and insights, which I have for some time started my (week)day with. Your retirement will lave a bit of a void, I'm afraid; any suggestions for a replacement?

Thank you for all of your efforts and thoughts. Please speak with the citizens in your community when you have the chance, they should have the benefit of the bright spot that your insight was for me. I invite all who would join me to raise their glass, drink deeply and curse the memory of Allen Dulles.

And as the last whiff of smoke slowly disappears into the night, another candle helping to light our way wanes & flickers and then goes out...leaving us feeling alone to stumble through the uncertain night that awaits us.

Sorry to see you go. Enjoying your wit and ability to pierce the bullshit was a morning ritual for me. Hoist a beer and go hiking. Enjoy the trails that you have provided glimpses of for the rest of us.

I came to know you via a comment about the closing/reopening of your blog over at Jesse's. Since I have the utmost respect for the integrity of his commentary, I knew your blog would be worth my time. As it turned out your website quickly moved to the very top of my daily website list and I came to love your even-handed daily commentary.

Your return, while short, was consistently brilliant. I just wish I had found you earlier. Best wishes as you turn your sharply focused intellect (and considerable photography skill) to the things that bring joy into your life. Be Well & Have Fun - Every Single Day!

Anony 2.44Thanks for singling out the photos - the verbiage has always come easy to me, the photography I've had to work at over the years, sharpening both eye and technique through massive amounts of failure. I appreciate your appreciation of my shots, but remember that each one I put on the wall has had ten or twenty or more on the floor.

And First Reader gets immense credit for keeping the quality of the writing towards the top of my ability. He gets a big thanks, too. - ckm

Thanks for all you've done for us over the years. It's been enjoyable and enlightening.Many of your photos have been evocative of the enticement of the "bend around the corner", encouraging us to investigate further.Much happiness in your future endeavors.

Our Motto

Keep fightin' for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't you forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin' ass and celebratin' the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was.